World Poker Fund Holdings (WPF) continues to invest in the poker industry without letting any of their hole cards go to showdown, after acquiring RealDeck Inc for $15m.

Each time I see a press release associated with the WPF my mind goes back to the International Stadiums Poker Tour (ISPT). Industry knowledge of the movers and shakers is sparse. Their impact is not understandable. The same was true of the ISPT when accidental press releases would arrive in the overflowing inbox. But the ISPT did hold a poker tournament like none other.

Hopes that the WPF will follow suit are dwindling. RealDeck is a gaming technology company that specialises in intellectual property rights. Established in 2005, they have patents in play readying to bring a new level of ‘integrity’ and ‘transparency’ to the poker industry. They have a beta product currently in operation. They are looking for an early 2016 launch date. An 11-year gap. That’s a long time.

The hook seems to be a hybrid version of poker. Imagine online poker having sex with live poker, and this is the bastardised version of things. The game relies heavily on live dealer technology. It’s nothing new. Beautiful women with bits falling out of their blouse have been in online casinos for years. This is different because poker is not a game played against the house. All other forms of live dealer games are.

In essence, RealDeck gives the WPF the opportunity to allow poker players to play online poker from their comforts of their home, but with a live dealer, and the ability to see and converse with the other players in the game. RealDeck believes they are amongst the ‘first complete poker systems ever to be patented.’

I’m not too sure.

The WPF announced themselves to the poker world with a series of press releases celebrating backing from an array of rappers, singers, models, actors/actresses and sports stars, in the Summer. They also acquired television show rights for a broad range of poker shows that nobody wants to watch, including Poker League Vegas Open and International Poker League.

So far, all the moves that the WPF has made feels like a poker company run by a team that knows nothing about poker.

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